Francesco II: Deprived of an Earthly Crown, Bound for a Heavenly

  A victim of the overwhelming transformation in European political and social life of the mid-19th century and subject of ridicule for generations, Francesco II, last King of Bourbon Two Sicilies bore the reverses forced upon him with humility, piety and charity and ranks among one of the greatest Catholic gentlemen of all time. Born January … Read more

Eugen of Austria: Prince of Catholic Chivalry

One of the last great figures of Catholic chivalry, Archduke Eugen von Habsburg served his Church, his nation and his sovereigns with admirable devotion and loyalty. Refusing to profit from the downfall of the Austro-Hunagrian monarchy, he refused the throne as well as resigned his position as the last lay-religious Hoch- und Deutschmeister of the … Read more

Blessed Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi: Going Home to God – Part 3

GOING HOME TO GOD, AND BEATIFICATION As they aged, Luigi and Maria devoted even more time to prayer and contemplation within their home, becoming an example of piety to all who knew them. In 1951, he, Maria and the inseparable Enrichetta spent a last, beautiful day together in the mountains, shortly after which Luigi died … Read more

Blessed Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi: “From the Roof Up” – Part 2

LIVING “FROM THE ROOF UP” In her moving work Radiography of a Marriage (1952), Maria wrote: “Since the birth of our first son, we began dedicating ourselves to the children, forgetting ourselves…. In order to love our children more, we tried to better ourselves by correcting our shortcomings and improving our characters…. We both felt … Read more

Blessed Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi: Catholic Gentleman – Part 1

On October 21, 2001, an estimated 50,000 men, women and children defied threatening weather to crowd St. Peter’s Basilica and Square in Rome as Pope John Paul II declared as “blessed” Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi, the first beatified married couple of the Church. To the assembly, the Holy Father stated: “Maria and Luigi were … Read more